Staying Safe from People Who Prey on You

What it is

Spotting people who target the new and alone — for money, for labor, or worse — and learning who to trust.

Why it helps you

Survivors are often taught to obey, which predators look for. Learning to read people protects you.

This opens up

Safer relationships and choices everywhere.

Where to get help

Signs someone may be trying to control you

People who prey on others often look kind at first. Watch what they do over time, not just what they say. Some warning signs:

They rush you. They want you to move in, take a job, or commit very fast.
They get angry, sulk, or make you feel guilty when you say no.
They try to cut you off from friends, family, or helpers.
They want to hold your ID, your phone, or your money “to keep it safe.”
They say you owe them money for rent, food, or travel, and the debt keeps growing.

Trust can be earned slowly. A safe person keeps small promises, tells the truth when it’s hard, and is fine when you say no. See also Healthy Relationships and Red Flags.

If someone is forcing you to work or have sex

National Human Trafficking Hotline Trained advocates help people who are being forced, tricked, or pressured into work or sex. They can help you plan for safety and find shelter, legal help, and other services.

Cost: Free
Who can use it: Anyone who may be in a trafficking situation, or who is worried about someone else.
How to start: Call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. You can also chat on the website. TTY users can dial 711.
Good to know: Open 24/7, with help in more than 200 languages. Calls are confidential. It also has a directory of local services.

U.S. Department of Labor: Wage and Hour Division If a boss doesn’t pay you, pays less than minimum wage, or keeps your tips, this government office can make them pay what they owe.

Cost: Free
Who can use it: Workers in the US. The agency says it enforces the law no matter what a worker’s immigration status is.
How to start: Call 1-866-487-9243, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. your local time.
Good to know: Complaints are confidential. It is illegal for your boss to punish you for complaining. Write down the hours you work and keep any pay papers.

If someone hurts, threatens, or stalks you

VictimConnect Resource Center A helpline for victims of any crime, including stalking, fraud, and assault. Specialists explain your rights and options and connect you with local help.

Cost: Free
Who can use it: Anyone who has been the victim of a crime in the US.
How to start: Call or text 1-855-484-2846, or chat on the website.
Good to know: Open 24/7. You can stay anonymous. They can only talk with you if you are physically safe right now.

love is respect Help for dating relationships, run by the team behind the National Domestic Violence Hotline. It’s made for younger people, but its guides on boundaries and red flags help adults who never learned what a healthy relationship looks like.

Cost: Free
Who can use it: Anyone
How to start: Call 1-866-331-9474, text LOVEIS to 22522, or chat on the website.
Good to know: For abuse by a partner or family member, you can also reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. See Leaving Family Safely for more.

Safety Net Project: Tech safety for survivors Plain guides to checking your phone for tracking apps, securing your accounts, and keeping your location private. Run by the National Network to End Domestic Violence.

Cost: Free
Who can use it: Anyone worried that someone is watching their phone, computer, or accounts.
How to start: Open the toolkit and start with “Survivors’ Guide to Phones” or “Stalkerware & Location Tracking.”
Good to know: If someone may be watching your device, read these on a library computer or a safe friend’s phone. Some people get more dangerous when they find their tracking app was removed. Talk with an advocate about a safety plan first if you can.

If someone tricks you out of money

FTC: How to avoid a scam The Federal Trade Commission is the government office that fights scams. This page shows the common signs and what to do.

Cost: Free
Who can use it: Anyone
How to start: Read the signs. If you’ve been scammed, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Good to know: Reporting helps the FTC go after scammers, but it usually can’t get your money back. If you paid by card or bank transfer, call your bank right away. See Money Traps to Avoid.

If you only do one thing first

Keep your own ID, phone, and money in your own hands. Most traps begin when someone else holds the things you need to leave. If someone already has them, or won’t let you go, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. You don’t have to be sure it’s “trafficking” to call.

Watch out for

Someone holding your papers. A real employer, landlord, or partner doesn’t need to keep your passport, birth certificate, or ID. Keep the originals with you or with someone you fully trust. Keep a photo or copy somewhere safe, like your own email.
“Free” housing in exchange for work. Be careful when someone offers a place to stay for vague “help around the house.” These deals can turn into unpaid work, made-up debts, and not being allowed to leave.
Jobs with no paper trail. A job that pays only cash, with no written pay rate or record of hours, makes it hard to prove you worked. Ask for the pay rate in writing and keep your own list of hours.
Demands for secrecy. Be careful of anyone who tells you not to talk to friends, family, or helpers about them. Hiding is how control grows.
Love that moves too fast. Big gifts, constant attention, and talk of forever in the first weeks can be a way to rush you. A safe person will let you take your time.